An aerial view shows crowds gathered for a past Englewood Beach Waterfest block party. The annual event is one of Charlotte County’s major tourism draws, bringing visitors to area hotels, restaurants and shops.
Charlotte County tourism tax revenue is approaching last year’s full-year total with two months of collections still to be reported, a sign of continued strength in the county’s tourism industry.
Tourist Development Tax collections reached $8,377,228 through July for fiscal year 2026, compared with $8,333,881 collected during the entire previous fiscal year. April alone generated a record $1,008,437, up nearly 40% from $721,180 in April 2025.
August numbers are not yet available. Charlotte County’s fiscal year runs from October through September.
Maureen Morgenthien, marketing manager for Visit Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, formerly the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau, provided the most recent figures.
The county is heading into a new fiscal year with two major tourism draws on the calendar: Englewood Beach Waterfest in October and the Florida International Air Show in November. Revenue generated by visitors attending those events will be reflected in fiscal year 2026-2027 collections.
Veteran jet pilot Randy Ball will perform in the MiG-17 and TA-4J Skyhawk at the Florida International Air Show, Nov. 7-8 at Punta Gorda Airport.
Sporting events also contribute to the county’s tourism economy. Baseball and pickleball tournaments, BMX races and swimming competitions can generate multiple nights of hotel stays because they often run for several days and attract competitors and spectators from outside the area.
Englewood Beach Waterfest will be held Oct. 9-11, with racing Saturday and Sunday. The annual offshore powerboat event attracts thousands of spectators, bringing visitors to local hotels, restaurants and shops.
The Florida International Air Show follows Nov. 7-8 at Punta Gorda Airport.
The F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team had been scheduled to perform but was canceled by the military. The air show has since added the MiG-17 and TA-4J Skyhawk, piloted by Randy Ball, to the lineup.
World champion Aarron Deliu also returns this year. Other scheduled performers include Ninja Nation, The Chuters jump team and Franklin’s Flying Circus.
The Innovators STEM Pavilion, featuring interactive science, technology, engineering and aviation exhibits for students and families, also will return to the airport grounds.
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